He gripped the short knife in his hand, summoned Ke Shou, and asked in a low, displeased voice, "Who is this person?" His gaze pointed to Su Ling, who was dressed in spotless white robes. "Why didn't I know that someone like this had come to the Military Equipment Department?"

Even Ke Shou's usually calm face showed a ripple: "General, you don't know?" His surprise flashed across his face for a moment, then he knelt down, "General, please forgive me. I have investigated this person, but the results show that he was arranged by higher-ups. I thought that you must know."

"Arranged by higher-ups?" Meng Yuxiu frowned, looking at the figure in white in the crowd. "You mean the Emperor?"

"I am incompetent and have failed to find anything, nor do I dare to continue the investigation," Ke Shou said, bowing his head.

Meng Yuxiu waved his hand, signaling Ke Shou to step back.

Watching him chat and laugh with Chang Lili, he felt increasingly annoyed. He thought this person was so mysterious that he couldn't find out his background and could stay in his military manufacturing department so quietly. He thought he might as well go and meet this person in person to see who he really was.

"It's tea. This tea has a mellow and sweet taste that won't change even after being stored for a long time." Su Ling's words were surprisingly gentle.

Chang Lili smiled awkwardly, thinking to herself that the life of the rich was indeed different, and even their favorite things were so poetic.

A cold laugh rang out, and Meng Yuxiu's harsh voice shattered the seemingly leisurely conversation: "Discussing tea in such a noisy and chaotic place, this young master certainly has a refined taste."

Chang Lili turned around abruptly: "Meng Yuxiu!"

Her clear eyes seemed to be shining, and although it had only been a few days since she last saw Meng Yuxiu, it felt like an eternity had passed.

Seeing Meng Yuxiu again now, I was surprised to find that she had lost a little weight.

Before she could say anything more, she lunged at him, but stopped abruptly as if pulling back from the brink.

With everyone watching, and someone else watching from behind, it's better to be more reserved.

Faced with this embrace that he had gained but then lost, Meng Yuxiu was somewhat disappointed, but looking at Chang Lili's appearance, he couldn't help but smile, and the annoyance in his heart was swept away.

"You're here! What happened to you? You look so tired." She couldn't help but ask.

Meng Yuxiu smiled and was about to answer when he looked up and saw Su Ling standing opposite him. He couldn't help but frown, and he felt that Su Ling looked somewhat familiar.

Su Ling laughed, but his smile was devoid of any warmth: "General Meng, seeing is believing. I am Su Ling."

The character “Ling” was like a spark that ignited a prairie fire, illuminating memories that Meng Yuxiu had never paid attention to. Who else could this aloof and cold man be but the current Crown Prince Xiao Lingshou?

However, as an unfavored prince, Xiao Lingshou was rarely seen when he was leading troops in battle in his early years. After his great victory, Xiao Lingshou was sent to observe three years of mourning for the late emperor. Therefore, it was natural that he could not recognize him.

Meng Yuxiu couldn't understand how he could see Xiao Lingshou here. After the imperial tombs were massacred, he disappeared without a trace. Meng Yuxiu thought he had met with misfortune, but now he was standing safely in the military manufacturing department under his jurisdiction, looking quite at ease.

While puzzled, Meng Yuxiu also felt a sense of relief, as if he had found something he had been searching for without any effort. This meant he no longer needed to go to great lengths to find him, and he could report back to the Emperor. However, judging from his current appearance, it seemed he wanted to continue concealing his identity.

"I wonder when such a big shot came to my military manufacturing department?" Meng Yuxiu asked tentatively.

Chang Lili immediately sensed the subtle tension between the two and stopped asking questions, looking at Meng Yuxiu and then at Su Ling with confusion.

Su Ling said calmly, "I was being presumptuous. I have long admired the superb skills of the Military Manufacturing Department and wanted to broaden my horizons. I entered General Meng's Military Manufacturing Department without paying a visit to General Meng, which is truly impolite."

Chang Lili was shocked. She hadn't expected that this person wasn't someone Meng Yuxiu had arranged to be there. She wondered what kind of show this was all about.

Meng Yuxiu sneered again: "Young master, you are of noble status, so naturally you can go wherever you want. Saying you are visiting me is an insult to me."

Chang Lili opened her mouth slightly in surprise, immediately stood up straight to face Su Ling, and carefully examined him, wondering what his identity was, that even Meng Yuxiu had to speak to him like that.

She was secretly delighted; it had been so wise of her to have him grant her a request earlier.

"General, you have made outstanding military achievements and are highly regarded by the Emperor. If it weren't for the fear of causing trouble for you, I would naturally need to pay you a visit." Although Su Ling spoke politely, his tone and expression were somewhat cold, making it difficult to tell whether he was being sincere or not.

Meng Yuxiu found it somewhat amusing. The Emperor had always disliked forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices, and Xiao Lingshou was so unfavored that he naturally dared not do anything improper.

Visiting a powerful general who commands a large army is tantamount to courting death, yet he can so readily utter such lies.

"You are certainly welcome to join my Military Manufacturing Bureau, but your family will likely be worried. If something were to happen to you, how could my small Military Manufacturing Bureau possibly bear the consequences?" Meng Yuxiu subtly gave him the order to leave. He did not want to make a big fuss and have Xiao Lingshou tied up and brought before the Emperor to explain.

Chang Lili only noticed his last sentence, and became even more curious about Su Ling's identity.

Su Ling should now be called Xiao Lingshou. He lowered his eyes, his slightly pale face seemingly covered with frost. He said impatiently, "General, you are overthinking it. Why should my safety be the concern of a small military workshop?"

Meng Yuxiu's expression immediately turned serious, his displeasure written all over his face.

Chang Lili smelled blood. She wondered if the two of them would start fighting. If they did, could she stop them?

"Calm down, calm down," she said, forcing a smile as she stood between the two.

Xiao Lingshou seemed to suddenly realize that he had said something he shouldn't have. He looked at Meng Yuxiu and said with unusual respect, "General, please don't be offended. What I meant was that it was my own decision to come to your military workshop. Even if something happens, it's not your fault, General, nor the military workshop. In a few days, after I finish making the weapons, I will leave. You can rest assured."

Upon hearing this, Meng Yuxiu's expression softened. He disliked court infighting and believed that things should be handled as they were.

Although he was a military general, he was not an impulsive or reckless person. He preferred to avoid conflict rather than cause trouble.

Since Xiao Lingshou had conceded, he was unwilling to press the matter further.

“Then please take care of yourself, Young Master Su Ling,” Meng Yuxiu said, turning to Chang Lili and raising the short sword in his hand. “I have a weapon that needs repairing.”

Chang Lili, unusually, did not show any reluctance as before. Instead, she pulled Meng Yuxiu and eagerly walked towards her blacksmithing platform.

She was a little confused after watching their conversation. She pulled Meng Yuxiu a few steps before asking anxiously, "Just who is Su Ling? Even you give him some leeway!"